Page 24 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • December 23, 2009
DVD releases
(continued from previous page) South Africa, where 20 years earlier a huge spacecraft ran into engine trouble and remained hovering over the city. In a humanitarian move, the authorities relocate the starving crustacean-like aliens to a camp just below the craft, an area given the designation District 9. The camp soon transforms into a gated ghetto, with the prawns -- the derogatory term adopted by the humans to describe the shelled creatures -- turning to violence and petty crime. “District 9” is presented in pseudo-documentary style, and includes interviews with humans that result in ironic responses. Director Neill Blomkamp balances these scenes with lots of action, so the movie works on many levels. If anyone misses the political and social under-text, “District 9” is still a nifty sci-fi film. Though it uses plot points from other films, “District 9” is an original, incorporating an unforced political theme that enriches it considerably. “District 9” is available in single DVD, two disc DVD, and two disc Blu-ray editions. The single disc edition contains a director’s commentary and a three-part documentary. The two disc DVD and Blu-ray editions contain these extras along with four additional featurettes and a gallery of artwork. “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” (Anchor Bay Entertainment), available in Blu-ray and DVD, is a remake of the 1956 Fritz Lang film noir. District Attorney Mark Hunter (Michael Douglas) has an impeccable record for putting criminals behind bars and is considered a shoo-in for governor. When ambitious rookie journalist C.J. Nicholas (Jesse Metcalfe) begins investigating Hunter for tampering with evidence, the DA’s perfect record comes under scrutiny. Playing a dangerous game with Hunter, C.J. frames himself as a murder suspect to catch the corrupt district attorney in the act. Romantically involved with C.J. but unaware of his assignment, Assistant D.A. Ella Crystal (Amber Tamblyn) becomes caught between her boss and C.J.’s exposé. Director Peter Hyams incorporates a couple of car crashes to pep things up, but is not very proficient at creating and maintaining suspense. As a result, it is difficult to care about the outcome. Special features include audio commentary with Hyams and Metcalfe, a making-of documentary, and the featurette “Criminal Forensics: The
Burden of Proof.” “Staten Island” (National Entertainment Media) is a caper film about three desperate men who plan the perfect crime. Sully Halverson (Ethan Hawke) is a septic tank cleaner who wants to give his unborn son the chance he never had. Jasper Sabiano (Seymour Cassel) is a deaf-mute deli worker who wants to escape the mobsters who have infiltrated his life and business. Parmie Tarzo (Vincent D’Onofrio) is a local mob boss who dreams of crushing the competition and achieving infamy any way he can. These three men have two things in common: They are all searching for better lives and they all live in Staten Island, the forgotten borough of New York City. Despite a promising opening, the film soon settles into a routine tale with larger-than-life characters played strictly for laughs. Extras include deleted scenes and audio commentary with DeMonaco, Hawke, and D’Onofrio. “Extract” (Walt Disney Home Entertainment) is an ensemble comedy from writer/director Mike Judge (“Office Space”) starring Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis, Kristen Wiig, Ben Affleck, J.K. Simmons, Clifton Collins Jr., and Gene Simmons. Joel Reynolds (Bateman) has a beautiful wife, a comfortable home, and the nearly finalized acquisition by General Mills of the culinary extracts business he has built with his loyal lieutenant, Brian (Simmons). But his wife is not very interested in him or her own career as a supermarket coupon designer, his employees want a piece of the imminent windfall, and a young woman (Kunis) who has eyes for him is a con artist. On the advice of his drugaddicted pal (Affleck), Joel arranges a scheme to cheat with impunity by hiring a gigolo to seduce his wife, only to learn the object of his affection is engineering a lawsuit for longtime employee Step (Collins) that will derail the General Mills deal and leave Joel penniless. “Extract” is not as sharp in its humor as “Office Space,” but serves as an interesting companion piece to that film because the story is told from the point of view of management rather than an employee. Bateman’s comic timing is superb. Judge has written the character with facets. Joel is a successful businessman, but his Achilles heel is trusting the wrong people. Unfortunately, Judge overloads the film with slapstick and sight gags, which reduce the movie to a more traditional romp. The film is available in DVD and Blu-ray formats. Both contain the featurette, “The Ingredients for a Classic Mike Judge Film.” Exclusive Blu-ray extras include deleted and extended scenes.
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 It’s time put an end to a a relationship It’s time toto put an end to relationship that has been particularly troublesome, that has been particularly troublesome, Aries. You know what you have do, Aries. You know what you have toto do, soso get with it. It will be less painful get with it. It will be less painful that way. that way. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 You can’t keep secrets from those you You can’t keep secrets from those you love, Taurus. Eventually, the truth has love, Taurus. Eventually, the truth has a a way of making an appearance. Acway of making an appearance. Accept that you must confess before it’s cept that you must confess before it’s too late. too late. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Now’s your chance get back Now’s your chance totoget back inin touch with a long-lost family member, touch with a long-lost family member, Gemini. Open the doors communiGemini. Open the doors ofof communication again, and you’ll see that the cation again, and you’ll see that the results will be very worth results will be very worth it.it. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 Little projects around the house are no Little projects around the house are no longer keeping your mind occupied. longer keeping your mind occupied. Take the plunge and plan something Take the plunge and plan something major, like total room renovation, major, like a a total room renovation, this week. this week. LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 Take the time get to know that quiet Take the time toto get to know that quiet person work. You may find you person atatwork. You may find you have more common than you once have more inin common than you once thought. Ignore what others will say thought. Ignore what others will say about the friendship. about the friendship. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 It’s time for a vacation, Virgo. You’ve It’s time for a vacation, Virgo. You’ve been keeping up a pace that even a tribeen keeping up a pace that even a triathlete would have trouble maintainathlete would have trouble maintaining. Rest up, because news on the ing. Rest up, because news is is on the horizon. horizon. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 certain relationship heats up AAcertain relationship heats up inin the days come, Libra. What you the days toto come, Libra. What you thought was platonic turns out be thought was platonic turns out toto be much more. Don’t be nervous about much more. Don’t be nervous about this surprising development. this surprising development. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 You’ll need make some firm deciYou’ll need toto make some firm decisions about your future, Scorpio, parsions about your future, Scorpio, particularly where family concerned. ticularly where family is is concerned. Now not the time to be self-cenNow is is not the time to be self-centered. Consider others, too. tered. Consider others, too. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 AA get-rich quick scheme won’t pan get-rich quick scheme won’t pan out for you, Sagittarius. Haven’t you out for you, Sagittarius. Haven’t you learned that the only way earn a a forlearned that the only way toto earn fortune through hard work? tune is is through hard work? CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 You have put someone else’s needs You have toto put someone else’s needs before your own, Capricorn, espebefore your own, Capricorn, especially where work involved. Don’t cially where work is is involved. Don’t expect everything go your way. expect everything toto go your way. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Are you tired others getting on your Are you tired ofof others getting on your case? Well, get up and show them that case? Well, get up and show them that you’re no couch potato. Make the you’re no couch potato. Make the most outdoor activities while the most ofof outdoor activities while the weather nice. weather is is nice. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 Sometimes the only way move forSometimes the only way toto move forward by taking a risk, Pisces. Stop ward is is by taking a risk, Pisces. Stop playing things safe and go out on playing things safe and go out on a a limb. limb.
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